Magnetic latch and handle for toilet seat

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to providing a more hygienic way of lifting one or both lids of a toilet seat. This is achieved through the use of a system of magnets to couple the two lids consisting of one magnet installed in both the top and bottom lid with the magnet in the top lid securely attached to a handle that is mounted on the topmost surface of the top lid where it can be manipulated by the user in order to disengage the magnets when lifting only the top lid is desired, or by simply pulling on when lifting both lids is necessary.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/440,668 filed Feb. 8, 2011, which is incorporated by referenceherein (including drawings). The invention relates to a magnetic latchand handle for toilet seats that can be reached on the topside of aclosed toilet seat lid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to toilet seat handles and moreparticularly to a topside mounted handle that utilizes a magnetic latchto secure and lift one or both lids as necessary.

The conventional toilet seat setup includes a solid surface, or top lid,that resides over a secondary surface, or bottom lid, with the centerportion removed, with both surfaces, or lids, connected to a pair ofhinges that are bolted to a toilet. When both surfaces are in thelowered position the bottom edge of the bottom surface rests against thetop edge of the toilet bowl meaning that when a user needs to lift oneor both lids he needs to reach below the surface to be lifted and pullup, allowing his fingers to come in contact with other surfaces of thetoilet that are in close proximity. These other surfaces are the sameareas that are routinely exposed to errant deposits of human waste,meaning that just to use the toilet, the user needs to be exposed toareas of the toilet that are better left untouched.

This method also leaves people in the dark about what they are exposingthemselves to until they have already done so. A person has to reachunder the lid or lids and lift in order to see if it is clean enough toreach under and lift.

Many other patents have addressed the problem of lifting a toilet seatlid or lids such as U.S. Pat. No. 971,956 to Holloway describing ahandle that is attached to the bottom lid of a toilet seat. While havinga handle on the bottom lid helps you avoid the bottom lid itself, thehandle is in the same relative position as the bottom lid keeping thehandle exposed to errant deposits of human waste just as the bottom lidis.

Another patent describing a toilet seat handle is U.S. Pat. No. 020,807to Mendoza which also describes a toilet seat handle that is attached tothe bottom lid of a toilet seat. Again, this keeps that handle in thesame relative position as the bottom lid keeping it exposed to errantdeposits of human waste. This trend is common in most of the patentsthat address the problem of lifting a toilet seat, where a handle ofsorts is mounted on the bottom lid in order to avoid having to touch thebottom lid.

A third patent which addresses this problem in a different way stillsuffers the same shortcomings. U.S. Pat. No. 185,093 to Dismukedescribes a device with several connecting rods that attach to variousparts of the toilet seat in order to lift those parts. For instance, youcould mount this device on the bottom lid of the toilet seat, and alsoon the top lid and you wouldn't have to touch either one directly. Theproblem is that the points where these appendages are attached to thelids still create an unsanitary environment that can harbor bacteria andbecome a transmission point for a myriad of germs. Plus the fact thatthe appendages are so large offers even more surface area in the generalvicinity of the toilet bowl.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a principle object of the present invention to providean improved toilet seat handle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet seathandle that does not require significant changes to the generalconstruction of a toilet seat, allowing for easy retrofit to existingtoilets.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedtoilet seat handle designed to allow both lids to be engaged from thetopmost surface of a closed toilet seat.

The above objects as well as other objects of the present invention willpresent themselves through a reading of the following description andviewing the accompanying pictures which illustrate a preferredembodiment.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toilet seathandle includes a magnetic latch that is built into both portions of atoilet seat, the top lid and the bottom lid, in order to engage oneanother providing a means of lifting both lids together, with a handlefor the user to manipulate positioned on the topmost surface of the toplid when in the closed position. This handle would be directly attachedto the magnet in the top lid, allowing the user to manipulate theposition of the magnet in the top lid in relation to the position of themagnet that is embedded in the bottom lid, resulting in the two magnetsengaging one another to allow the handle to lift both lids or beingseparated by the user in order to lift the top lid separate of thebottom lid. Due to the nature of magnetic attractions a user canoverride the latch by simply pulling the two lids apart without damagingthe latch, the lids, or the magnets. Keeping the handle on the topmostsurface of the closed toilet seat allows the user the opportunity toinspect the handle and surrounding surface prior to using, unlike mosttoilet seats that require contacting an unseen surface prior to using

Furthermore, given the location of the handle on the topmost surface ofthe toilet seat in the closed position, the present invention would bemost useful at the front edge of the top lid in order to facilitategrabbing the handle from the open position, as well as allowing for anopen ended recess for the user's finger that can be easily flushed outand cleaned and offers more air flow to dry the surface.

It is understood by those with knowledge in the field that the toiletseat handle could consist of a different means of engagement such assuction or physical mechanisms, and could be mounted in a differentposition without departing from the overall spirit of the presentinvention. Similarly, it is understood that the latch and handle can bebuilt to be used in other situations where two objects need to betemporarily, but repeatedly, engaged and disengaged such as but notlimited to doors, particularly cabinet doors, and compartment covers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is showing a cross section of the present invention shown fromthe right.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective of the toilet seat handle in the general areaconsidered optimal for placement of said handle.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective of the handle assembly shown in FIG. 2 inclose-up view in the closed position.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective of the handle assembly shown in FIG. 3 in theopen position with an arrow to illustrate the direction of movementrequired to operate said handle.

FIG. 5 depicts the typical actions required to use the toilet seathandle for it's intended uses.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a cross sectional view of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, which is a toilet seathandle that is used to lift one or both lids of a toilet seat. This viewis depicting an area in the front end of the top lid 10 of a toilet seatthat has a recess for a mounting plate 2 with a finger pull 1 attachedto a post 5 that connects to the top magnet 6 that is housed in an areaon the bottom side of the top lid 10 of a toilet seat. This area iscovered from the topside by the mounting plate 2 and on the bottom sideby a flexible cover 8 that has a flange 9 designed to mate with agrooved ring on the bottom surface of the top lid 10 to cover the handlemechanism and allow for vigorous cleaning which is typical of a toiletseat. In the closed position, directly beneath this flexible cover 8 isthe bottom magnet 7 that is embedded in the bottom lid 11 of the toiletseat. The top magnet 6 is situated in the top lid 10 so that thepolarity is opposite of the bottom magnet 7 in the bottom lid 11resulting in the attraction between the two creating a bond that securesthe two lids together.

When it is necessary to lift the top lid 10 and the bottom lid 11 of thetoilet seat together the user simply lifts on the pull 1 that issituated on the topmost surface of the top lid 10. When it is necessaryto lift the top lid 10 separate from the bottom lid 11 the user simplytwists the pull 1 either left or right which twists the post 5 andconsequently the top magnet 6 in order to move the top magnet 6 out ofalignment with the bottom magnet 7 weakening the attraction between thetwo enough

Due to the design of the components in the magnetic latch and handle fortoilet seats the system can be built into the existing footprint ofstandard toilet seats allowing for easy retrofit of a seat containingthe magnetic latch and handle on most if not all toilets without theneed of additional tools or alterations. Furthermore, if desired themagnetic latch and handle could be built separate from the toilet seatentirely or used in a transient manner from one toilet seat to another

1. A handle or lifting mechanism that is attached to the topside of thetop lid of a toilet seat that is used to lift one or both lids of saidtoilet seat.
 2. The handle from claim 1 wherein the portions of thehandle on the topside of the top lid are mounted flush with thesurrounding surfaces, and the portions of the mechanism in the bottomlid are embedded or enclosed in the top surface of the bottom lid, toallow for typical hygienic maintenance (cleaning) of the toilet seat. 3.The handle from claim 1 wherein the mechanism in the handle that engagesthe top and bottom lid of the toilet seat uses magnetism to create abond that can be repeatedly broken without wearing out or breaking. 4.The handle from claim 3 wherein the mechanism protrudes through thebottom surface of the top lid in order to physically contact the topsurface of the bottom lid in order to engage the corresponding parts. 5.The handle from claim 1 wherein the mechanism according to claim 3 iscovered by a bottom plate on the bottom side of the top lid to allow forvigorous cleaning of the surrounding surfaces.
 6. The handle from claim4 wherein all the parts or portions are fully exposed.
 7. The handlefrom claims 1 and 4 whereas the user controls the function of themechanism from the topside of the mechanism by way of twisting orlifting the handle on said mechanism in an effort to avoid contact withsurfaces that may be contaminated from regular use of the toilet, suchas the top and bottom surface of the bottom lid as well as the bottomsurface of the top lid, being the places that users of the common toiletseat have to choose from when lifting the common toilet seat.
 8. Thehandle from claims 1, 4, and 5 wherein the mechanism that engages thetop and bottom lid is not magnetic.
 9. The handle from claim 6 whereinthe mechanism that engages the top and bottom lid is mechanical.
 10. Thehandle from claims 1 and 2 wherein the handle and mechanism are surfacemounted on the outer surfaces of the top and bottom lid.
 11. The handlefrom claim 1 wherein the handle and lifting mechanism are integratedinto the production of the toilet seat in such a manner that someexterior parts (pull plate, fasteners, etc.) may become unnecessary.